Systems and methods for adding a non-inherent component to a device key of a networked device

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus for adding a non-inherent component to a device key of a networked device are disclosed. The methods include receiving a device key of the networked device, where the device key comprises one or more device identifying attributes of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, identifying location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, and where the location information represents a geographic relationship between the networked device and other network nodes of the nodal geographic network, assigning a position attribute to the networked device according to the identified location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, and adding the position attribute to the device key as the non-inherent component for the networked device, and storing the device key independently from the networked device or in the networked device, or both.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of adding a non-inherent component to a device key of a networked device, the method comprising:
 receiving a device key of the networked device, wherein the networked device is a network node in a nodal geographic network having multiple network nodes and wherein the multiple network nodes are connected with each other, and the device key comprises one or more device identifying attributes of the networked device in the nodal geographic network; 
 identifying location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, wherein the location information represents a geographic relationship between the networked device and other network nodes of the nodal geographic network; 
 assigning a position attribute to the networked device according to the identified location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network; 
 adding the position attribute to the device key as the non-inherent component for the networked device; 
 storing the device key; and 
 triggering an error when the networked device is detached from the network and placed in a new network position in the nodal geographic network, or when the networked device is detached from the network and replaced with a new compatible device at a different network position in the nodal geographic network. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more device identifying attributes comprises at least one of a device vendor, a device type, a device product code and a device series. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nodal geographic network is a linear network and wherein the multiple network nodes of the linear network are arranged sequentially. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the assigned position attribute represents a linear geographic position for the networked device in the nodal geographic network. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising adding the position attribute to a device key for a replacement networked device when the replacement networked device is used for replacing the networked device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising saving the device key in a network device, wherein the network device is not one of the multiple network nodes in the nodal geographic network. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic relationship between the networked device and the other network nodes is changed when the networked device is placed in the new network position. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic relationship between the new networked device and the other network nodes is changed from the original geographic relationships. 
     
     
       9. A network apparatus comprising: a processor and non-transitory computer readable medium storing processing instructions for adding a non-inherent component to a device key of a networked device, wherein the processing instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive a device key of the networked device, wherein the networked device is a network node in a nodal geographic network having multiple network nodes and wherein the multiple network nodes are connected with each other, and the device key comprises one or more device identifying attributes of the networked device in the nodal geographic network; 
 identify location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, wherein the location information represents a geographic relationship between the networked device and other network nodes of the nodal geographic network; 
 assign a position attribute to the networked device according to the identified location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network; 
 add the position attribute to the device key as the non-inherent component for the networked device; 
 store the device key; and 
 trigger an error when the networked device is detached from the network and placed in a new network position in the nodal geographic network, or when the networked device is detached from the network and replaced with a new compatible device at a different network position in the nodal geographic network. 
 
     
     
       10. The network apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more device identifying attributes comprises at least one of a device vendor, a device type, a device product code and a device series. 
     
     
       11. The network apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the nodal geographic network is a linear network and wherein the multiple network nodes of the linear network are arranged sequentially. 
     
     
       12. The network apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the assigned position attribute represents a linear geographic position for the networked device in the nodal geographic network; and
 wherein the processing instructions further cause the processor to add the position attribute to a device key of a replacement networked device when the replacement networked device is used for replacing the networked device. 
 
     
     
       13. The network apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processing instructions further cause the processor to save the device key in the non-transitory computer readable medium of the network apparatus, and the network apparatus is not one of the multiple network nodes in the nodal geographic network. 
     
     
       14. The network apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the geographic relationship between the networked device and the other network nodes is changed when the networked device is placed in the new network position. 
     
     
       15. The network apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the geographic relationship between the new networked device and the other network nodes is changed from the original geographic relationships. 
     
     
       16. A system comprising:
 a nodal geographic network having multiple network nodes; 
 a networked device of the nodal geographic network; and 
 a network apparatus having a processor and non-transitory computer readable medium storing processing instructions for adding a non-inherent component to a device key of the networked device, wherein the processing instructions comprise: 
 receiving a device key of the networked device, wherein the networked device is a network node in the nodal geographic network having the multiple network nodes and wherein the multiple network nodes are connected with each other, and the device key comprises one or more device identifying attributes of the networked device in the nodal geographic network; 
 identifying location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, wherein the location information represents a geographic relationship between the networked device and other network nodes of the nodal geographic network; 
 assigning a position attribute to the networked device according to the identified location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network; 
 adding the position attribute to the device key as the non-inherent component for the networked device; 
 storing the device key; and 
 triggering an error when the networked device is detached from the network and placed in a new network position in the nodal geographic network, or when the networked device is detached from the network and replaced with a new compatible device at a different network position in the nodal geographic network. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the nodal geographic network is a linear network and wherein the multiple network nodes of the linear network are arranged sequentially, and the assigned position attribute represents a linear geographic position for the networked device in the nodal geographic network. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processing instructions further comprising saving the device key in the network apparatus, and wherein the network apparatus is not one of the multiple network nodes in the nodal geographic network. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the geographic relationship between the networked device and the other network nodes is changed when the networked device is placed in the new network position. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the geographic relationship between the new networked device and the other network nodes is changed from the original geographic relationships.